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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

New poll - Arabella, Hermione, Verity

92 replies

Ruthshaw1980 · 22/04/2018 10:05

Morning all

Following on from your excellent suggestions regarding unusual girl names with at least three syllables, we have whittled our preferred girl names to a final three:

Arabella
Hermione
Verity

Those of you who contributed may see that two of these names (Verity, Hermione) had previously been discounted by DH but your lists helped to bring these back into focus and change his mind, so your assistence has had a measurable effect!

Consequently, I kindly ask if people could rank these names in order of preference. I cannot decide which of these is my number one. My concern with Arabella, is that she will just be called Bella latter on, which although a lovely nn is quite common now. Regarding Hermione, is this still too Harry Potter-esk?

All contributions will be greatly received.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
TroubledLichen · 23/04/2018 01:22

Love Hermione and Arabella is pretty good too! I really dislike Romilly and Verity.

Lifeaback · 23/04/2018 01:21

I love love love verity!

Hermoine is okay, the Harry Potter association wouldn't bother me much

Arabella seems a bit pretentious and flouncy imo. It is a pretty name though

Really not a fan of romilly. Makes me think of gypsies (and not the pretty traditional types) not sure if it's because it sounds similar to Romany but it just seems like a gypsy name to me. I seem to be in the minority on here though

Joeybee · 23/04/2018 01:03

Verity - elegant and strong sounding to me. It stands out from the crowd.
Hermione - Lovely, lovely name, but i'm put off by the Harry Potter association (even though I love Hermiones character).
Arabella- Too floral and girly and hippy and pretentious to me.

Buntysoven · 22/04/2018 23:25

Romilly is gorgeous. Best by miles

InflagranteDelicto · 22/04/2018 23:16

I have a Verity, so I'm biased. Mine is a strong, loving young lady with a good heart, although a baggage at times! Sensible and ditzy at the same time Grin

Hermione- bit too Harry Potter?
Arabella is affected to my ear.

SE13Mummy · 22/04/2018 23:13

Romilly is lovely, I still prefer Verity with your DS's name though.

CaviarAndCigarettes · 22/04/2018 23:11

Hermione. Always
Arabella is too cutesy for me and Verity makes me think of vanity

flybabyfly · 22/04/2018 22:58

Oh and Romilly is on par with Hermione

flybabyfly · 22/04/2018 22:56

Hermione — lovely
Verity — nice
Arabella — ok

DownInTheDumps1 · 22/04/2018 22:51

Arabella is really popular where I am (South East).

Verity would be pronounced Vair-rah-eee.

Hermione is well 🤢 , how about Briony?

Like Romilly though!

Sophronia · 22/04/2018 22:47

I don’t like Romilly at all. Hermione is the nicest imo.

IdblowJonSnow · 22/04/2018 22:47

Verity Smile

MadameJosephine · 22/04/2018 22:44

Just seen your update. Romilly is my new number one

Romilly
Verity
Hermione
Arabella

Padfoot100 · 22/04/2018 22:43

Arabella 100%!!

Hermione will just make everyone think of Harry Potter I'm afraid. I wouldn't like the name without Harry Potter though either.

I don't like Verity at all, sorry

Romilly is ok. 2nd favourite after Arabella.

MadameJosephine · 22/04/2018 22:41

Love, love, love Verity

Hermione is beautiful, I wouldn’t worry about the Harry Potter connection, it doesn’t put people off calling their boys Harry

Not keen on Arabella, I prefer Annabel

RedDwarves · 22/04/2018 22:31

I don’t like Hermione regardless of the HP association. It’s just not an attractive sounding name.

RavenWings · 22/04/2018 22:24

Romilly is ok. I think the Milly part is a bit weak and childish sounding.

I'd now rank them:

  1. Verity
  2. Romilly
  3. Arabella
  4. Hermione
trueblueari · 22/04/2018 22:20

Romilly is my favourite so far!

Raines100 · 22/04/2018 22:04

Arabella- beautiful.

I don't like the others, I'm afraid, though I'd pick Romilly before the other two.

Kate123cl · 22/04/2018 22:04

@Ruthshaw1980 Romilly is lovely! How about Heidi? Without HP I think Hermione is an ok name, reminds me of a whiny girl though

Ruthshaw1980 · 22/04/2018 21:51

Mmmmm well in summary I would say the verdict so far is......mixed!! No clear winner but DH is leaning towards Hermione as his No1. However, the Harry Potter link I do worry about but let’s assume for 1 minute that HP never happened. What do people think of Hermione as a name now?? Also DH wants to add Romilly to list as he is keen on that as well. What are people’s opinion of this name compared to others?

OP posts:
SweetCharityBeginsAtHome · 22/04/2018 20:28

Verity yes definitely
Arabella fine but not to my personal taste
Hermione is a lovely name but eternally stuck with Harry Potter

Olivo · 22/04/2018 20:24

Verity, lovely. Lots of Bellas at school, and Hermione. Ecoming popular here too.

BewareOfDragons · 22/04/2018 20:20

Verity

Don't rate the other two.

MedicinalGin · 22/04/2018 20:18

Arabella just reminds me of the childhood illness Rubella for some reason, sorry. The ones that I know both get called Ara for short, rather than Bella. I think I like Verity the most actually. I’m sorry if this has been already suggested and discounted but have you thought of Harriet? Best of luck with it all Flowers